Suction cleaning apparatus



Dec. 21, 1943. J. H. ASHBAUGH SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 6,1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fl 6- Q.

FIG, L

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR JoHu H- ASHBAUGH ATT NEY Dec. 21, 1943. J. H. ASHBAUGH SUCTIONCLEANING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 6, 1940 FIG. 4-

INVENTOR V JOHU H ASHBAUGH 4 BY ATTOIV Patented Dec. 21, 1943 SUCTIONCLEANING APPARATUS John H. Ashbaugh, Longmeadow,:Mass., assignor toWestinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Application December c, 1940, Serial No.368,777

1 Claim.

This invention relates to suction cleaning apparatus, more particularlyto a suction cleaner oi the type known as a tank cleaner," and it hasfor an object to provide improved apparatus oi this type.

A further object is to provide means whereby the attachment hose may beconveniently reeled about the body of the cleaner.

A further object is to provide means for supporting the cleaner body ina vertical position.

A further object is to provide means which prevent the cleaner fromscarring furniture or other articles that it might contact while beingmoved about over the surface being cleaned.

A further object is to provide means whic serves as a. support for thecleaner, and which retains the attachment hose in reeled position.

These and other objects are eflected by my invention as will be apparentfrom the following description and claims taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, forming a part this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the cleaner disposed in verticalposition, showing one side of the cleaner;

Fig 2 is an elevational view of the cleaner in vertical position,showing the bottom of the cleaner;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view'of a second embodiment of the cleanerdisposed in vertical position, showing one side of the cleaner; and

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the second embodiment of the cleaner invertical position, showing the bottom of the cleaner.

In the drawings, I0 indicates a suction cleaner of the type to whichthis invention is applicable, and which is commonly referred to as thetank type. The suction cleaner includes generally a cylindrical body IIprovided with end caps I2 and I3, and a handle I4 for carrying thecleanerin a horizontal position. The body II and end caps I2 and I3house the usual motor, suction-creating apparatus, and air filter.

The end cap I2 is provided with an air inlet opening which has a rigidtubular member l6 connected thereto. The tubular member I6 providesconnecting means whereby the inlet of the cleaner may be connected toone end of a flexible hose II, to the other end of which variouscleaning attachments or tools I8 may be attached. The hose II alsoprovides means by which the cleaner may be pulled about by the operator.The end cap I3 is provided with an air outlet opening, not shown. Anon-and-off switch IQ for controlling the cleaner motor is mounted .on

thecap I3. A core 20 for connecting the cleaner .motor to a suitablesource oi? power passes through the cap I3 to the interiorof thecleaner.

The cleaner is provided with ;a support 2| :for supporting it in ahorizontal position, which is the normal operating position of thecleaner. As seen from the drawings, the support comprises transversesaddle portions 22 which conform 'to the shape of the cleaner body I'I,longitudinal portions 23 which extend adjacent the body II,

along one side of the cleaner, the .next'portion 32 is placed betweenthe portions 21 of the support and the end cap I3 of the cleaner body,the next portion 33 isextended diagonally along the opposite side of thecleaner, the next portion is bent over the end cap I2 on the left-handside of collar 35 as it appears in Fig. 1, andv the attachsupport ;andthe body II of the cleaner.

ment I8 is inserted between the portions 25 of the Only one loop of thehose about the body of the cleaner has been shown and described;however,-it will be understood that the hose may be looped about thebody of the cleaner as many times as is required in order to reel theentire hose on the body of the cleaner.

It will be noted that the portion 21 of the support retains the hose I1against the end cap I3 and prevents it from sliding down the side of thecleaner. The portion 2| of the support holds the attachment I8 againstthe body I I.

The tip portion of the cap I3 and the bends 26 in the support 2I providea three point support whereby the cleaner may be conveniently supportedin a vertical position. This feature enables the cleaner to be stored ona minimum amount of door space, which is advantageous, especially if thecleaner is to be stored in a small closet where floor space is at apremium.

In the embodiment shown in'Figs. 3 and 4, there is provided a member 40.This member serves several purposes, namely, it retains the hose lagainst the end. cap l2 once the hose has been properly reeled about thebody of. the

cleaner, it provides a support-on which the cord may be convenientlyreeled, it provides a handle for the cleaner, and serves as a bumper forthe cleaner. The member 40 includes side arms ll which are attached tothe body H by any suitable method, such as welding, and an end loop 42connecting the arms 4!. As seen from Fig. 3, the end loop is spaced fromthe body H and tubular member l6. When the hose I! is reeled on the.body o'f the cleaner as previously described and positioned between the-end,loop

l2 and the tubular member IS, the end loop will I retain the hose inplace and prevent it from sliding off the end cap l2. With thisarrangement,

the hose will remain on the body of the cleaner even though it is veryloosely reeled about the same. I l

The end loop 42 provides a handle whereby the cleaner may be carriedfrom place to vplace in a vertical position.

The member 40 may also be utilized as a bumper to prevent the cleanerfrom scratching and scarring furniture or walls that it may contact asit is pulled about over. the surface being cleaned, and to prevent thecleaner body from being dented or scarred as a result of bumping intoarticles. To this end the member 40 is formed as best shown in Fig. 4,with portions I4 offset from the side of the body by bends 43 and withthe end loop 42 extending beyond the end of the cleaner. With the memberso formed, when the cleaner is pulled about by the hose H the ofisetportions 44 and the end loop 2 willcontact furniture or other articlesbefore the body II. The entire member 40 may be covered with rubber'orsome other satisfactory material that will not scar or scratchfurniture.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings itwill be seen that this invention has provided novel -means whereby the'attachment hose-may be very conveniently reeled on the body of thecleaner.. In addition, this'invention also providesimproved support-2,ss7,se4.

ing means, and a novel bumper and handle for a suction cleaner of thistype.

While I have shown my invention inseveral forms, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various other changes and modifications without departing from thespirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitationsshall Y be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in theappended claims.

What I claim is:

A suction cleaner including a horizontallyelongated body having aninletopening at one end thereof, a conduit connected to said inletopening, said conduit including a relatively long, flexible portion anda relatively short rigid portion, supporting members extendinglongitudinally of said body and spaced therefrom sufficiently to permitsaid conduit to be inserted and retained between said members and saidbody, said members being connected to said body at a point or pointsadjacent but spaced from the otheror second end of the body and havingend portions extending beyond said connection longitudinally of saidbody but spaced therefrom sufliciently to receive said flexible portiontherebetween, the lengths of said flexible and rigid portions being suchthat said flexible portion is adapted to be reeled about said body forstorage and, when so reeled, extends from said first end longitudinallyof said cleaner body to the second end, transversely between said endportions and said cleaner body, longitudinally of said cleaner body tothe first end, around the first end, and said rigid portion is insertedbetween said supporting members and said body,

and a handle attached'to said cleaner body adjacent the first-mentionedend on the side of the inlet opening remote from said supporting membersand spaced from said inlet opening a distance suitable to accommodate aportion of the flexible hose between the same and the portion of'saidconduit adjacent the inlet opening.

JOHN H. 'ASHBAUGH.

